Patriots vs. Seahawks: MVP Winner and Key Stats from Super Bowl 2015

Take a bow, Tom Brady.

Not only did you steer your team to a dramatic 28-24 Super Bowl victory over the vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense, you won the MVP along the way and set some all-time records. SportsCenter recapped the evening for Mr. Brady:

While many fans will get caught up in the play call from the Seahawks in the final minute when they elected to throw the ball instead of run from the 1-yard-line, Brady was masterful in the second half.

Not only did he lead his team down the field for the game-winning score in the fourth quarter after facing a 10-point deficit, he did it against the NFL’s top-ranked secondary after throwing some early interceptions. Rather than sulk and focus on the mistakes, he bounced back and knocked the Legion of Boom from the NFL’s mountaintop.

Here is a look at some of the key stats from Sunday’s showdown.

Key Stat No. 1: 6.6

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Brady averaged 6.6 yards per completion, which is more worthwhile than it seems on the surface.

Sure, it’s not an incredible number, but it speaks to the Patriots’ game plan throughout the contest against Seattle. Rather than challenge the likes of Richard Sherman and the Seahawks secondary downfield, New England dumped underneath passes and crossing routes all game, which ate up chunks of yardage and time.

The Seattle linebackers and corners (outside of Sherman) had difficulty stopping the like of Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and even Shane Vereen during the contest, which helped New England march down the field on two occasions in the final quarter. 

Brady deserves plenty of credit because he found a way to knock off the mighty Seahawks defense on the sport’s biggest stage.

Key Stat No. 2: 24

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Marshawn Lynch totaled 24 carries during Sunday’s Super Bowl. Had that number been 25, there is a very good chance the Seahawks would have won their second consecutive title.

Rather than give the ball to Lynch—who is literally nicknamed Beast Mode because of his ability to shed tackles and pick up physically grueling yards—at the 1-yard-line with less than a minute remaining and trailing by four, Seattle chose to throw it in an effort to surprise the New England defense.

Instead of a potential go-ahead touchdown from Lynch, Russell Wilson threw an interception, which virtually sealed the game for the Patriots. 

Arash Markazi of ESPN did not hesitate to call the Seahawks out for the play call, while Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun noted the statistical improbability of the turnover:

To Russell Wilson’s credit, he took the blame for the play in the aftermath, via Aaron Wilson:

The number "24" will likely haunt Seahawks fans for a very long time after the loss because it really could have been 25. That hypothetical 25th carry could have been the difference between glory for a second straight year and one of the most gut-wrenching losses in Super Bowl history.

Interestingly, Lynch is set to become a free agent after the 2015 season.

Rob Carr/Getty Images

While this is certainly not intended to suggest that the choice to pass instead of run at the end will play any sort of factor in his decision-making process, it is a small variable to consider moving forward. Would a different team have given Lynch the chance to win the game? 

Alas, Seattle was the top rushing attack in the league this year and has already reportedly offered him a massive contract, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. So Seahawks fans don’t appear to have much to worry about. It still wouldn’t be a great way to end his career in Seattle.

Key Stat No. 3: 2.9

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

The Patriots tried to establish something of a rushing attack in the early going against the Seahawks, but LeGarrette Blount only averaged 2.9 yards per carry in 14 tries against the stifling Seattle front.

While the Seahawks were third in the league against the run this season, they did allow more than 100 rushing yards in all four of their regular-season losses and in both of their playoff games. It made sense for the Patriots to at least try the run game in the initial three quarters, especially since Seattle was the top-ranked pass defense in the league.

Alas, Blount never got anything going (hence the 2.9 yards per carry), and the Patriots went almost exclusively to the pass in the final quarter. The strategy paid off because Brady was a perfect 8-of-8 on the final touchdown drive to give the Patriots the lead and eventual win. 

Perhaps New England’s late strategy (and the outcome of the game) would have been different if Blount experienced more success early in Sunday’s game.

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